Music to the ears

Roll over Beethoven ... two talented teachers are bringing classical music to the people and are finding an endless Liszt of devotees in the kingdom.

Since violinist Theresa Finzi and pianist Lis Holman hit the road entertaining at parties, weddings and adding a touch of class to numerous functions they haven't looked Bach ... in fact they've almost got more Dvork than they can Handel!

Theresa, 44, and Lis, 43, from A'Ali, specialise in blending their music to the theme of any event where they are invited to play.

Miss Finzi said: "The beauty of our music is that it is always in the background. It's not too intrusive, too high nor too low and is appropriate for that time. The violin produces a variety of sounds that is ideal for the background and the piano is a great accompaniment.

"At a recent wedding at La Fontaine we played light-hearted classical music that worked well with the mood of the day. At another party with a highland theme we played folk music that was received well among the partygoers."

Mrs Holman added: "Listening to music in a private event is opposite to that of going to a concert where you are expected to sit quietly and enjoy the evening.

"Here there is a lot of interaction. People remember music and feel free to come and talk to us at the end. I have a portable piano and all we need to prepare for the evening is a plug point and a brief on what the event is about."

The duo can call on fellow musicians to join them should a particular theme demand a mini orchestra.

Music plays a large part in the daily lives of both women. Miss Finzi, who began learning the violin at the age of four, comes from a reputed musical family and is the niece of well known cellist Jacqueline Duprey.

She said: "I cannot imagine doing anything else. All my family - parents, uncles and aunts, cousins - literally everybody is a musician.

"As a child I took music for granted and thought it strange that people couldn't read music. Everyone around me did. And so I had all the help necessary to become a musician."

Both entertainers are graduates from the Royal Academy of Music in London and are full-time teachers in Bahrain. Miss Finzi is the head of instrumental music at the St Christopher's School and Mrs Holman is the head of music of the St Christopher's Infant school.

They are members of the Bahrain Concert Symphonia where Miss Finzi is the leader of the cello and violin. Both are also members of the Octessence and have been performing at a variety of venues in the kingdom.

It was 10 years ago after adopting her two children - Jasper, 10, and Florence, seven - that Miss Finzi moved from performing to full-time teaching. She said: "There is a lot of interest in Western classical music in Bahrain. All our concerts are full houses. There are a number of children learning instrumental music at our school."

Mrs Holman, who lives with her Brass teacher husband Andy Holman and children Rebecca, 12 and Mathew, eight, began learning the piano when she was five and the cello when she was eight.

She said: "I come from a family who appreciate music and I decided at a young age that I wanted to take music as a career. As a musician we have to be highly dedicated. We cannot take holidays from music and have to be prepared to be poor. We play a variety of music that is purely a result of 30 years of slogging and hard practise."

Miss Finzi adds: "Not everyone can be a musician. You need to have a desire, dedication and good enough ear to recognise the notes. It can be very emotionally draining and you need a lot of stamina to practise 10 to 12 hours a day."